Man allegedly drank $102,000 in whiskey

SCOTTDALE, Pa., March 25 (UPI) -- The caretaker of a Pennsylvania mansion is accused of drinking 52 bottles of whiskey appraised at a total $102,400.

Patricia Hill, who purchased the Scottdale mansion in 2012, said caretaker John Saunders, 62, helped her remove and dust off nine cases of Old Farm Pure Rye Whiskey that were apparently concealed in the walls of the home by industrialist J.P. Brennan, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported Monday.

"My guess is that Mr. Brennan ordered 10 cases ... pre-Prohibition," Hill said. "I was told by his family that family members used to greet him at the door each day with a shot of whiskey."

Hill said she discovered after Saunders moved out that he had apparently drank 52 of the 108 bottles of the whiskey, which was bottled in 1912 at the West Overton Distilling Co. She said the missing booze was appraised at a total $102,400 by New York auction house Bonhams.

"This whole experience has shocked me," Hill said. "I was shocked when I found them, shocked to find Mr. Saunders drank them, and shocked when I received the appraisal. I had just planned to preserve them."

Saunders was arrested and is now charged with receiving stolen property and theft. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Wednesday.

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